The money will go to Safe House Shelter, the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County and the Alpha House run by the Interfaith Hospitality Network, and the more than a foot of hair that Rabhi had cut off will go to Locks of Love.

Donations were coordinated by the United Way of Washtenaw County, and were collected from Thanksgiving to the beginning of January.

Yousef Rabhi's hair before the haircut.

Amy Biolchini | AnnArbor.com

Rabhi said he hasn’t had short hair since middle school, and has worn a variety of hairstyles since. The most recent iteration was a long ponytail-type bun that keeps his hair in check.

The haircut was purely his own decision, Rabhi said.

Though he was advised during his election campaigns to cut his hair and shave off his facial hair, Rabhi said he wanted to stay true to himself and kept his appearance the way he wanted it.

Friday, Rabhi brought in a picture of race car driver Dario Franchitti as an example of what he wanted, but he let Salon 344 stylist Mary Lammers take the reins.